Antigua and Western Highlands Hotels

Antigua and Western Highlands Hotel Reviews

Antigua

The old parlor game of guessing what lies behind Antigua's walls—buildings directly front sidewalks with nary a hint of what lies behind the gate—could apply to the city's hotels, too. (One of our favorite Antigua lodgings has a wooden gate in serious need of a coat of paint, but unimagined elegance lurks behind.) Inside all, you'll find rooms arranged around a central garden in the old colonial style. Most newly constructed hotels are also arranged thus. As with restaurants, more expensive hotels line the streets east of Parque Central. Few lodgings offer air-conditioning, but you'll rarely miss it here. Most hotels raise rates Friday and Saturday night, since Antigua is a popular weekend tourist destination for Guatemalans. Expect lodging rates to go up by 50% during Christmas and Holy Week.

The Highlands

International hotel chains are nowhere to be found in this region, and aside from a couple of resort-type accommodations on Lake Atitlán, the highlands remain the province of smaller lodgings, most less than 30 rooms each. That makes reservations a good idea any time of year, but especially on weekends. Air-conditioning is unheard of in this part of the country, but you won't miss it at these altitudes. Heat may seem a far more pressing concern, especially the farther west you travel, where the nighttime temperatures get colder. Many lodgings contain chimineas, or fireplaces, in their rooms. If not, don't be afraid to ask for an extra blanket.

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